It had been a week since he was poisoned, so it was natural for the antidote to take some time.

I watched the woman closely.

It would be better if he woke up soon. We could do without her suspicions.

“Terneya, I did as you said and gave him the potion, but I can’t erase this suspicion until the Lord wakes up. Until then, I’ll keep these people locked up.”

“Mother…”

Terneya seemed to want to protest, but her will was strong.

In the end, we were led back to the room where I had been kept all along.

Considering the circumstances, they were treating us quite well.

Terneya was apologetic, but I was fine. In fact, I was glad to be with Idrish and have a chance to rest.

I sat down on the bed and waited for Idrish to finish washing up.

It didn’t take long before he came out, shirtless.

Unintentionally, I furrowed my brows. The black markings had spread even more dramatically. They ran from his right chest, over his abdomen, to his left chest. It was almost as extensive as when he had collapsed in the forest.

Come to think of it, there was no color in his face.

Well, he had covered an eight-day round trip journey on foot as Baekho within a week.

That day, if we hadn’t kissed, something terrible might have happened.

From now on, I promised not to be away from Idrish for more than a week.

I lay down beside him, following his lead.

“Did it hurt a lot?”

Idrish tilted his head.

“Yes.”

I awkwardly placed my hand on his chest. The black vines moved vigorously, as if resisting my touch. It was about the same intensity as my own movements.

Idrish exhaled deeply, as if relieved.

“Lord will wake up soon, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Is that really the antidote? What if it’s just cold medicine or something?”

“You don’t trust me either?”

He said so, looking at me, but his gaze was strangely gentle.

“That medicine, was it really meant to save me?”

“Yeah. Remember when Perkop threatened you? He promised to get it for you.”

“It sounded difficult to obtain. I was touched.”
“You don’t need to be moved by such a thing.”

Idrish said gruffly and closed his eyes.

Is he embarrassed?

I slid my hand under Idrish’s arm and pulled his waist, or rather, I was pulled by him. I rested my face on his smooth chest.

“Huh? I said I was moved.”

“…….”

“Hey, I said I was moved.”

I lightly patted Idrish’s bare skin. He didn’t say anything but instead hugged me tightly.

“Come on.”

He might be embarrassed. I’d like to tease him more, but I’ll let it slide.

I chuckled silently and closed my eyes.

The room was quiet for a while. Neither of us said anything.

It was a day without worries.

The Lord would wake up soon, and Idrish had returned safely. There was nothing more to wish for.

On the other hand, Idrish became more clear-headed as time passed.

He ran his fingers through Cecilia’s hair. Most of the color had faded, revealing her original red hair. He seemed to prefer it this way.

My mind was in turmoil.

For the past few days, as he went to get the antidote, many people had seen him transform into Baekho. The rumor of Atygrado’s survival was only a matter of time.

Since he was planning to go public soon, the spread of rumors like that didn’t matter.

But the expressions of the people who had seen Idrish today kept haunting me.

Idrish was lost in deep thought.

“The Baekhos should disappear from this world. They are inherently evil and merciless.”

“They have killed countless beings and shamelessly preserved their lives. Even if we catch the author and execute him, it won’t be enough. They shouldn’t exist in this world.”

This journey was the first time I had heard firsthand about the world’s perception of us and Atygrado.

If it had been in the past, I might have been angry, but today, my feelings were different.

It was an emotion I had never felt before. It was a bit frustrating and a bit sad.

Idrish remembered his mother. Was she really such a queen?

Should the Baekho family really disappear?

Idrish held Cecilia’s hand, which had risen to his chest, and brought it to his lips.

The skin that had been damaged by the poison was almost completely peeled off, revealing newly grown skin that was soft and smooth. Her hand carried a sweet fragrance.

If it were Cecilia, she would surely say there was nothing that needed to disappear.

So, what should I do now?
So, what should I do now?

In the past, I would have been angry at that woman and at Lovero. But now, her scolding and raised voice didn’t seem much different from my own.

She was just another victim left behind, no different from them. There was no point in them being hostile to each other.

As I cleared away such thoughts, there was only one name left in my mind.

“Ferkop Seryan.”

Idrish muttered softly.